Passport Requirements as of
February 2009:
AIR TRAVEL
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All persons
traveling by
air
outside of the United States
are required to present a
passport or other valid
travel document to enter or
re-enter the United States.
LAND AND SEA TRAVEL
(Cruises and vehicles)
The following summarizes
information available on the
Department of Homeland
Security’s website.
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CURRENTLY:
All U.S. citizens must show
proof of identity and
proof of U.S. citizenship
when entering the United
States from Canada, Mexico,
Bermuda and the countries of
the Caribbean by land or
sea.
Acceptable
documents include: U.S.
Passport Book, U.S. Passport
Card, or
other document approved by
the Department of Homeland
Security.
U.S. citizens who do not
have a single document
verifying identity and
citizenship must
present both
an identification and
citizenship document;
for example, a driver’s
license and a copy of a
birth certificate or
naturalization certificate.
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LATER:
On June 1, 2009, the
U.S. government will
implement the full
requirements of the land and
sea phase of WHTI (Western
Hemisphere Travel Iniaitive
– travel to Canada, Mexico,
Bermuda &
Caribbean regions). The
proposed rules require most
U.S. citizens entering the
United States at sea or land
ports of entry to have a
passport, passport card, or
other travel document
approved by the Department
of Homeland Security.
NO PASSPORT YET? If you have already
applied for a passport and are departing soon,
please contact the
National Passport Information Center to contact them via phone and/or email to find out the status of your passport.
This web site also provides further instructions
for those departing abroad in 4 weeks or less
and need a passport to travel.
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Passports
While traveling abroad, you must carry some forms of identity such as a
passport or birth certificate. For Texas A&M programs, it is
required for students to obtain a passport.
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PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A PASSPORT
Passport applications may be picked up from the Brazos County
District Clerk's Office at the Brazos County Courthouse or copied
CLEARLY from the state dept. web site at
http://travel.state.gov.
Applicants must take the following
(these new rates are effective February 1, 2008):
- Certified copy of birth certificate with a state or county
seal, previous American passport, original
certificate of naturalization (no photo copies), or military ID.
(If you are a Texas resident and need to obtain a copy of your
birth certificate, try the
Office of Vital Records.)
- Two identical, recently made 2x2" passport photos with white
background only. (Please note: No military insignia/uniform
should be worn, i.e. Corps Uniform)
- $75.00 check or money order made payable to passport agency
($60.00 for 16 & under).
- $25.00 cash for execution fee (can use check at Bryan Post
Office).
- Valid driver's license (any state) and social security
number.
- Certified proof of name change required (only when
applicable).
- Completed application (except for signature). NOTE:
Anyone 14-17 must have a parent also sign with
them at the District Clerk's Office. If you are over 17, you
must appear and sign before a clerk in the District
Clerk's office.
*There are two application forms. If you
have a previous U.S. passport issued within the past 15 years and
after your 16th birthday, you are eligible to mail in
the Renewal Passport Application (DSP-82) directly to the
passport office listed on the back of the form, with your check
in the amount of $75.00 (the $25.00 execution fee is waived for
those eligible to apply by mail). Otherwise, please use the
Routine Passport Application (DSP-11).
If you are applying locally, take the above
numbered items to the District Clerk's Office (address given below). You will need to sign the application in front of the clerk. Your passport will be mailed to you within 4-6 weeks, longer if you apply in late spring or summer, when they are swamped with summer travelers. Expedited service is available for an additional $60.00 fee to ensure processing of the passport within three business days from receipt at a passport agency.
If you are traveling within 14 calendar days or
are pressed for time because of visas, you can take your application
directly to the Houston Passport Agency. However, you must
have an appointment! There is an additional fee of $35.00 for this
process. You will need proof of immediate travel (airline ticket,
confirmed airline-generated itinerary, or letter from your faculty
coordinator if you are going on a study abroad program), along with
your completed application, fees, etc, as listed above.
Photography Guide for U.S. Passports -
Technological advances have changed the way passport and visa
photos may be taken and the way that the U.S. Department of State
processes the photos. This website, provided by the U.S. Dept. of
State, is designed to help ensure that 1) customers are accurately
represented and 2) photos are free of common defects that cause
delays.
Live Customer Service - National Passport Information Center
- Live operator assistance is now available from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00
midnight, Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, except
Federal Holidays. During these hours, customers with questions about
U.S. passport applications may speak directly with customer service
representative. Live customer service TDD/TDY operators are also
available for customers with hearing impairments. Passport
customers may continue to contact the National Passport Information
Center at any time during the day or night for automated information
or, if a passport is needed within 14 days, to make an appointment
at a Passport Agency. The National Passport Information Center's
toll free number is 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TDY: 1-888-874-7793).
Customers may also visit the Department of State's Bureau of
Consular Affairs website at http://www.travel.state.gov/ for how to apply
for a U.S. passport, to download or print application forms or to
locate the nearest passport application acceptance facility.
If you have recently applied for a U.S., you can check the status
of your passport online by going to
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html
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Local Offices:
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US Post Office
Bryan Main Office
2121 E. William J. Bryan Pkwy.
Bryan, TX 77801-9998
Tel: (979) 774-2300
M-F 8:00am - 12:00pm
Can get photos taken here for $15.00
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District Clerk's Office
Brazos County Courthouse
300 E. 26th St. 216
Bryan, TX 77801
Tel: (979) 361-4232
M-F 8:00am - 4:00pm
Can get photos taken here for $10.00
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Houston Regional Office:
Houston Passport Agency
Mickey Leeland Federal Bldg.
1919 Smith St., Suite 1400
M-F 8:30-3:30
Tel: (713) 751-0294 (automated appt. line 24 hrs. daily)
General Passport Information 1-877-487-2778
Status of Passport Application: 1-877-487-2778
TDD 1-888-874-7793
Live Operator available 7:00 a.m.-12.00 p.m. EST Monday - Friday (except Federal Holidays)
email: npic@state.gov
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Visas
Entry and exit requirements for
each country vary. For U.S. citizens, the U.S. Department of State’s Travel.State.Gov web site provides Consular Information Sheets detailing entry and exit requirements for every country.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with the consular or embassy for your destination country in your HOME country. For example, if you are a Mexican citizen studying abroad in Spain for the semester, you will need to contact the Spanish Embassy’s consular services in Mexico. The consular information sheets provide contact info for foreign countries’ embassies only located in the United States.
International Student Identification Card (ISIC)
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Emergency Numbers:
- ISIC Emergency Help Service - 1-800-370-ISIC (4742)
- ISIC Outside of U.S. Emergency Number - (715) 342-4104 (collect)
The International Student Identification Card (ISIC)
is recommended for students who go abroad.
This card can be obtained online at
http://www.statravel.com. The fee for the ISIC is $22.
Be sure to take with you a small clear picture of
yourself. Consult the website to see all of the
savings and benefits that this card can offer.
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